SEATTLE — Financial scams targeting senior citizens are rising sharply, which is prompting a new warning from the U.S. Justice Department. In fact, reported instances have climbed more than 50% over the past year, statistics show.
ARC Seattle co-anchor Steve McCarron spoke with Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar about the issue.
Several common schemes are frequently being used to exploit older adults, Staniar said. Among the most prevalent: Scams involving bad actors pretending to be government officials. Those schemes often rely on urgency, intimidation or demands that victims take immediate action, Staniar said.
Romance scams are also a concern. Scammers using online relationships to build trust before asking for money or personal information, Staniar said.
In general, common red flags include: Unexpected contact, pressure to act quickly, requests for payment or sensitive information, and communications that do not match how legitimate agencies or businesses typically operate.
People who believe they have been targeted are encouraged to report suspected fraud to the appropriate authorities.
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